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Iraqis blame prime minister Nouri al-Maliki for Baghdad bombings

As Iraq reeled from last week's twin bombings in Baghdad that killed more than 150 people and injured 500, public anger turned against Nouri al-Maliki, the prime minister.

His government, which goes to the polls in January, has benefited from security gains in the past two years. The ruling party made strides in provincial elections last February, but each new terrorist attack erodes its support.

Recent bombings claimed by Al-Qaeda have targeted government buildings in the heart of the capital. Officials said the toll from last Sunday's attacks against the justice ministry and the provincial government came to 153, but it was impossible to say how many were men, women or children because so many bodies were unrecognisable.

Families faced desperate searches to find remains of their loved ones. Mohammed Haj Abdallah spent five days looking for his daughter, Sana, and his grandson. Ironically, Sana had gone to the provincial